Method and apparatus for directed adaptive control of dynamic channel selection in wireless networks

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to wireless networks and more specifically to systems and methods for selecting available channels free of radar signals from a plurality of radio frequency channels. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a standalone multi-channel DFS master device and a cloud intelligence device. The standalone multi-channel DFS master device generates spectral information associated with a plurality of communication channels for a device in communication with the standalone multi-channel DFS master device. The cloud intelligence device receives the spectral information via a network device, integrates the spectral information with other spectral information to generate integrated spectral information, and determines a communication channel for the device that is selected from the plurality of communication channels based at least on the integrated spectral information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to each of,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/225,966 titled “METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR DIRECTED ADAPTIVE CONTROL OF DYNAMIC CHANNEL SELECTION IN WIRELESSNETWORKS” and filed on Aug. 2, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/085,573 titled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FORDIRECTED ADAPTIVE CONTROL OF DYNAMIC CHANNEL SELECTION IN WIRELESSNETWORKS” and filed on Mar. 30, 2016, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/203,383 titled “METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR DIRECTED ADAPTIVE CONTROL OF DYNAMIC CHANNEL SELECTION INWIRELESS NETWORKS” and filed on Aug. 10, 2015. The entireties of theforegoing applications listed herein are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to wireless networks and more specificallyto systems and methods for selecting available channels free ofoccupying signals from a plurality of radio frequency channels.Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems forexploiting licensed and unlicensed bands requiring radar detection anddetection of other occupying signals, such as the Dynamic FrequencySelection (DFS) channels in the Unlicensed National InformationInfrastructure (U-NII) bands, to enable additional bandwidth for 802.11ac/n and LTE in unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) networks employing awireless agility agent.

Wi-Fi networks are crucial to today's portable modern life. Wi-Fi is thepreferred network in the growing Internet-of-Things (IoT). But, thetechnology behind current Wi-Fi has changed little in the last tenyears. The Wi-Fi network and the associated unlicensed spectrum arecurrently managed in inefficient ways. For example, there is little orno coordination between individual networks and equipment from differentmanufacturers. Such networks generally employ primitive controlalgorithms that assume the network consists of “self-managed islands,” aconcept originally intended for low density and low trafficenvironments. The situation is far worse for home networks, which areassembled in completely chaotic ad hoc ways. Further, with more and moreconnected devices becoming commonplace, the net result is growingcongestion and slowed networks with unreliable connections.

Similarly, LTE-U networks operating in the same or similar unlicensedbands as 802.11ac/n Wi-Fi suffer similar congestion and unreliableconnection issues and will often create congestion problems for existingWi-Fi networks sharing the same channels. Additional bandwidth andbetter and more efficient utilization of spectrum is key to sustainingthe usefulness of wireless networks including the Wi-Fi and LTE-Unetworks in a fast growing connected world.

Devices operating in certain parts of the 5 GHz U-NII-2 band, known asthe DFS bands or the DFS channels, require active radar detection. Thisfunction is assigned to a device capable of detecting radar known as aDFS master, which is typically an access point or router. The DFS masteractively scans the DFS channels and performs a channel availabilitycheck (CAC) and periodic in-service monitoring (ISM) after the channelavailability check. The channel availability check lasts 60 seconds asrequired by the FCC Part 15 Subpart E and ETSI 301 893 standards. TheDFS master signals to the other devices in the network (typically clientdevices) by transmitting a DFS beacon indicating that the channel isclear of radar. Although the access point can detect radar, wirelessclients typically cannot. Because of this, wireless clients must firstpassively scan DFS channels to detect whether a beacon is present onthat particular channel. During a passive scan, the client deviceswitches through channels and listens for a beacon transmitted atregular intervals by the access point on an available channel.

Once a beacon is detected, the client is allowed to transmit on thatchannel. If the DFS master detects radar in that channel, the DFS masterno longer transmits the beacon, and all client devices upon not sensingthe beacon within a prescribed time must vacate the channel immediatelyand remain off that channel for 30 minutes. For clients associated withthe DFS master network, additional information in the beacons (i.e. thechannel switch announcement) can trigger a rapid and controlledevacuation of the channel. Normally, a DFS master device is an accesspoint with only one radio and is able to provide DFS master services forjust a single channel. A significant problem of this approach is, in theevent of a radar event or a more-common false-detect, the single channelmust be vacated (e.g., within 200 ms to satisfy a regulatoryrequirement) and the ability to use DFS channels is lost (e.g., untilthe access point has downtime and is able to perform a CAC scan againfor a channel within the DFS band). This disclosure recognizes andaddresses, in at least certain embodiments, the problems with currentdevices for detecting occupying signals including current DFS devices.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to wireless networks and more specificallyto systems and methods for selecting available channels free ofoccupying signals from a plurality of radio frequency channels. Thepresent invention employs a wireless agility agent to access additionalbandwidth for wireless networks, such as IEEE 802.11ac/n and LTE-Unetworks. The additional bandwidth is derived from channels that requireavoidance of channels with occupying signals. For example, additionalbandwidth is derived from special compliance channels that require radardetection, such as the DFS channels of the U-NII-2 bands, by employingmulti-channel radar detection and in-service monitoring, and activechannel selection controls.

In an embodiment, the present invention utilizes an agility agentemploying proprietary embedded radio techniques including continuousmulti-carrier, multi-channel wide-band spectrum monitoring, an embeddedcomputation element employing proprietary real-time spectrum analysisalgorithms, and proprietary signaling and control protocols to providedetection and continuous real-time monitoring of multiple radar typesand patterns, and other signals such as interferers and measures ofcongestion and traffic, across simultaneous multiple channels.

The present invention may also utilize a cloud-based computation andcontrol element, which together with the wireless agility agent forms asplit-intelligence architecture. In this architecture, the embeddedsensor information from the agility agent—such as radar detectionchannel availability check and in-service monitoring together withmeasurements of interference, traffic, identification of neighboringdevices, and other spectrum and location information—is location-tagged,time-stamped and communicated to and integrated over time within thecloud intelligence engine. Also, the embedded sensor information fromthe agility agent may be fused with spectrum information from otheragility agents distributed in space, filtered, and post-processed. Theembedded sensor information from the agility agent may further be mergedwith other data from other sources to provide improvements tofundamental signal measurement and network reliability problems such asaugmented radar sensitivity, reduced false-detect rates, and reliablediscovery of hidden nodes. Further, the cloud-based computation andcontrol element, together with wireless agility agents attached to aplurality of host access devices (e.g., a plurality of WiFi routers or aplurality of LTE-U small cell base stations), may enable the host accessdevices to coordinate network configurations with same networks (e.g.,WiFi to WiFi) and/or across different networks (e.g., WiFi to LTE-U).

Other embodiments and various examples, scenarios and implementationsare described in more detail below. The following description and thedrawings set forth certain illustrative embodiments of thespecification. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a fewof the various ways in which the principles of the specification may beemployed. Other advantages and novel features of the embodimentsdescribed will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the specification when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention, aswell as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more fullyunderstood herein after as a result of a detailed description of apreferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates portions of the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum includingportions that require active monitoring for radar signals.

FIG. 2 illustrates how such an exemplary autonomous DFS master mayinterface with a conventional host access point, a cloud-basedintelligence engine, and client devices in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates how an exemplary autonomous DFS master in apeer-to-peer network may interface with client devices and the cloudintelligence engine independent of any access point, in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a system that includes agility agent(s), a cloudintelligence engine, a host access point and data source(s), inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5A illustrates exemplary signaling and interfacing between anagility agent, a cloud intelligence engine and a host access point, inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5B also illustrates exemplary signaling and interfacing between anagility agent, a cloud intelligence engine and a host access point, inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6A illustrates a method of performing a channel availability checkphase and in-service monitoring phase in a DFS scanning operation withan autonomous DFS master to make multiple DFS channels of the 5 GHz bandsimultaneously available for use according to the present invention.

FIG. 6B illustrates an exemplary beacon transmission duty cycle and anexemplary radar detection duty cycle.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which theagility agent is connected to a host device and connected to a networkand a cloud intelligence engine via the host device.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention in whichthe agility agent is connected to a host device and connected to anetwork and a cloud intelligence engine via the host device.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of determining an operating channel for anaccess point device via an agility agent device and a cloud intelligenceengine device, according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 also illustrates a method of determining an operating channelfor an access point device via an agility agent device and a cloudintelligence engine device, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to wireless networks and more specificallyto systems and methods for selecting available channels free ofoccupying signals from a plurality of radio frequency channels. In anaspect, the present invention provides adaptive control of dynamicfrequency selection in a wireless network (e.g., IEEE 802.11ac/n andLTE-U networks) from a cloud-based data-fusion and computing elementemploying a wireless agility agent. As used herein, a channel “free” ofoccupying signals may include a channel with occupying signals that arelower than a signal threshold including signal strength, quantity, ortraffic. The present invention employs a wireless agility agent toaccess additional bandwidth for wireless networks, such as IEEE802.11ac/n and LTE-U networks. The additional bandwidth is derived fromchannels that require avoidance of occupying signals. For example,additional bandwidth is derived from special compliance channels thatrequire radar detection—such as the DFS channels of the U-NII-2 bands—byemploying multi-channel radar detection and in-service monitoring, andactive channel selection controls. The DFS master actively scans the DFSchannels and performs a channel availability check and periodicin-service monitoring after the channel availability check.

In accordance with an implementation of the present invention, a systemincludes a standalone multi-channel DFS master device and a cloudintelligence device. The standalone multi-channel DFS master devicecollects and/or generates spectral information associated with aplurality of communication channels (e.g., a plurality of 5 GHzcommunication channels, a plurality of 5.9 GHz communication channels, aplurality of 3.5 GHz communication channels, etc.) for a device incommunication with the standalone multi-channel DFS master device. Thespectral information may be location-tagged and/or time-stamped. Thedevice may be, for example, an access point device, a DFS slave device,a peer-to-peer group owner device, a mobile hotspot device, a radioaccess node device or another device. The cloud intelligence devicereceives the spectral information via a network device, integrates thespectral information with other spectral information to generateintegrated spectral information, and determines a communication channelfor the device that is selected from the plurality of communicationchannels based at least on the integrated spectral information. Theintegrated spectral information may also be location-tagged and/ortime-stamped. In an aspect, the cloud intelligence device furtherdetermines the communication channel based on regulation informationstored in at least one database.

In accordance with another implementation of the present invention, amethod provides for collecting and/or generating, using a multi-channelDFS device, spectral information associated with a plurality of radiochannels (e.g., a plurality of 5 GHz communication channels, a pluralityof 5.9 GHz communication channels, a plurality of 3.5 GHz communicationchannels, etc.) for a device in communication with the multi-channel DFSdevice. The spectral information may be location-tagged and/ortime-stamped. The method also provides for transmitting, using themulti-channel DFS device, the spectral information to a cloudintelligence device (e.g., a cloud intelligence engine) via a wide areanetwork. Additionally, the method provides for integrating, using thecloud intelligence device, the spectral information with other spectralinformation to generate integrated spectral information. The integratedspectral information may also be location-tagged and/or time-stamped.The method also provides for determining, using the cloud intelligencedevice, a radio channel for the device from the plurality of radiochannels based at least on the integrated spectral information. It is tobe appreciated that the cloud intelligence device can be a set of cloudintelligence devices associated with cloud-based distributedcomputational resources. For example, the cloud intelligence device canbe associated with multiple devices, multiple servers, multiple machinesand/or multiple clusters.

In accordance with yet another implementation of the present invention,a system includes a DFS device and a cloud intelligence device. The DFSdevice generates spectral information associated with a plurality ofradio channels (e.g., a plurality of 5 GHz communication channels, aplurality of 5.9 GHz communication channels, a plurality of 3.5 GHzcommunication channels, etc.) based on an analysis of the plurality ofradio channels. The spectral information may be location-tagged and/ortime-stamped. The cloud intelligence device receives the spectralinformation via a wide area network, integrates the spectral informationwith other spectral information to generate integrated spectralinformation, and determines a radio channel for a device, from theplurality of radio channels, based at least on the integrated spectralinformation. The integrated spectral information may also belocation-tagged and/or time-stamped. The device is in communication withthe DFS device via a wireless network, and the other spectralinformation is generated by at least one other DFS device configured toanalyze the plurality of radio channels. The wireless network can be,for example, a local area network, a wide area network, an ad hocnetwork (e.g., an independent basic service set (IBSS) network), apeer-to-peer network (e.g., an IBSS peer-to-peer network), a short rangewireless network (e.g., a Bluetooth network) and/or another type ofnetwork.

FIG. 1 illustrates portions of a 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101. FIG. 1 showsfrequencies 102 and channels 103 that make up portions of the 5 GHzWi-Fi spectrum 101. The channels 103 of the GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101 maybe a plurality of 5 GHz communication channels (e.g., a plurality of 5GHz radio channels). A U-NII band is a Federal Communications Commission(FCC) regulatory domain for 5-GHz wireless devices and is part of theradio frequency spectrum used by IEEE 802.11ac/n devices and by manywireless internet service providers. The U-NII band operates over fourranges. For example, a U-NII-1 band 105 covers the 5.15-5.25 GHz rangeof the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101, a U-NII-2A band 106 covers the5.25-5.35 GHz range of the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101, a U-NII-2C band 107covers the 5.47-5.725 GHz range of the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101, and aU-NII-3 band 109 covers the 5.725-5.850 GHz range of the 5 GHz Wi-Fispectrum 101. The U-NII-2A band 106 is subject to DFS radar detectionand avoidance requirements. The U-NII-2C band 107 is also subject to DFSradar detection and avoidance requirements. Use of the U-NII-3 band 109is restricted in some jurisdictions like the European Union and Japan.

When used in an 802.11ac/n or LTE-U wireless network, an agility agentof the present invention functions as an autonomous DFS master device.In contrast to conventional DFS master devices, the agility agent is notan access point or router, but rather the agility agent is a standalonewireless device employing inventive scanning techniques described hereinthat provide DFS scan capabilities across multiple channels, enablingone or more access point devices and peer-to-peer client devices toexploit simultaneous multiple DFS channels. The standalone autonomousDFS master of the present invention may be incorporated into anotherdevice such as an access point, LTE-U host, base station, cell, or smallcell, media or content streamer, speaker, television, mobile phone,mobile router, software access point device, or peer to peer device butdoes not itself provide network access to client devices. In particular,in the event of a radar event or a false-detect, the enabled accesspoint and clients or wireless device are able to move automatically,predictively and very quickly to another DFS channel.

FIG. 2 provides a detailed illustration of an exemplary system of thepresent invention. As illustrated in FIG. 2, an agility agent 200, inthe role of an autonomous DFS master device, may control at least oneaccess point or LTE-U small cell base station to dictate selection of achannel (e.g., a communication channel associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fispectrum 101, a communication channel associated with a 5.9 GHzspectrum, a communication channel associated with a 3.5 GHz spectrum,etc.) for the at least one access point. For example, the agility agent200 may control a host access point 218 to dictate selection of achannel (e.g., a communication channel associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fispectrum 101, a communication channel associated with a 5.9 GHzspectrum, a communication channel associated with a 3.5 GHz spectrum,etc.) for the host access point 218. In one example, the agility agent200 may be an agility agent device. In another example, the agilityagent 200 may be a DFS device (e.g., an autonomous DFS master device, astandalone multi-channel DFS master, etc.). The agility agent 200 maydictate selection of a channel for the at least one access point or theLTE-U small cell base station (e.g., the host access point 218) based oninformation provided to and/or received from a cloud intelligence engine235. For example, the agility agent 200 may be an agility agent devicein communication with the host access point device 218. Furthermore, theagility agent 200 may generate spectral information associated with aplurality of 5 GHz communication channels (e.g., a plurality of 5 GHzcommunication channels associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101) forthe host access point device 218. However, it is to be appreciated thatthe agility agent may alternatively generate spectral informationassociated with a different plurality of communication channels (e.g., aplurality of 5.9 GHz communication channels, a plurality of 3.5 GHzcommunication channels, etc.). The cloud intelligence engine 235 may bea device (e.g. a cloud intelligence device) that receives the spectralinformation via a wide area network 233 (e.g. via a network deviceassociated with the wide area network 233). Furthermore, the cloudintelligence engine 235 may integrate the spectral information withother spectral information associated with other host access pointdevices (e.g., other access point devices 223) to generate integratedspectral information. Then, the cloud intelligence engine 235 maydetermine a communication channel (e.g., a communication channel fromthe plurality of 5 GHz communication channels associated with the 5 GHzWi-Fi spectrum 101) for the host access point device 218 and based atleast on the integrated spectral information.

In an aspect, the agility agent 200 may dictate channel selection by (a)signaling availability of one or more DFS channels by simultaneoustransmission of one or more beacon signals; (b) transmitting a listingof both the authorized available DFS channels, herein referred to as awhitelist, and the prohibited DFS channels in which a potential radarsignal has been detected, herein referred to as a blacklist, along withcontrol signals and a time-stamp signal, herein referred to as adead-man switch timer via an associated non-DFS channel; (c)transmitting the same signals as (b) over a wired medium such asEthernet or serial cable; and (d) receiving control, coordination andauthorized and preferred channel selection guidance information from thecloud intelligence engine 235. The agility agent 200 sends thetime-stamp signal, or dead-man switch timer, with communications toensure that the access points 218, 223 do not use the information,including the whitelist, beyond the useful lifetime of the information.For example, a whitelist will only be valid for a certain period oftime. The time-stamp signal avoids using noncompliant DFS channels byensuring that an access point will not use the whitelist beyond itsuseful lifetime. The present invention allows currently available 5 GHzaccess points without radar detection—which cannot operate in the DFSchannels—to operate in the DFS channels by providing the radar detectionrequired by the FCC or other regulatory agencies. In an embodiment, theagility agent 200 may send a status signal (e.g., a heartbeat signal) tothe AP control agent 219 to indicate a current status and/or a currentstate of the agility agent 200. The status signal provided by theagility agent 200 may act as a dead-man switch (e.g., in response to alocal failure). Therefore, the AP control agent 219 can safely operateon non-DFS channels. In certain implementations, authorized availableDFS channels can be associated with a set of enforcement actions thatare time limited (e.g., authorized DFS channels for a certain geographicregion can become unavailable for a few hours, etc.).

The host access point 218 and any other access point devices 223 undercontrol of the agility agent 200 typically have an access point controlagent portion 219, 224 installed within respective communication stacks.For example, the host access point 218 may have an access point controlagent portion 219, 224 installed within a communication stack of thehost access point 218. Furthermore, the network access point 223 mayalso have an access point control agent portion 219, 224 installedwithin a communication stack of the network access point 223. The accesspoint control agent 219, 224 is an agent that acts under the directionof the agility agent 200 to receive information and commands from theagility agent 200. The access point control agent 219, 224 acts oninformation from the agility agent 200. For example, the access pointcontrol agent 219, 224 listens for information like a whitelist orblacklist from the agility agent. If a radar signal is detected by theagility agent 200, the agility agent 200 communicates that to the accesspoint control agent 219, 224, and the access point control agent 219,224 acts to evacuate the channel within a certain time interval (e.g.,immediately). The control agent can also take commands from the agilityagent 200. For example, the host access point 218 and network accesspoint 223 can offload DFS monitoring to the agility agent 200 as long asthey can listen to the agility agent 200 and take commands from theagility agent regarding available DFS channels.

The host access point 218 is connected to the wide area network 233 andincludes the access point control agent 219 to facilitate communicationswith the agility agent 200. The access point control agent 219 includesa security module 220 and agent protocols 221 to facilitatecommunication with the agility agent 200, and swarm communicationprotocols 222 to facilitate communications between agility agents,access points, client devices and/or other devices in the network. Theagility agent 200 connects to the cloud intelligence engine 235 via thehost access point 218 and the wide area network 233. The host accesspoint 218 may set up a secure communications tunnel to communicate withthe cloud intelligence engine 235 through, for example, an encryptedcontrol channel associated with the host access point 218 and/or anencrypted control API in the host access point 218. The agility agent200 may transmit (e.g., though the secure communications tunnel) thespectral information to the cloud intelligence engine 235. The spectralinformation may include information such as, for example, a whitelist(e.g., a whitelist of each of the plurality of 5 GHz communicationchannels associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101 that does notcontain a radar signal), a blacklist (e.g., a blacklist of each of theplurality of 5 GHz communication channels associated with the 5 GHzWi-Fi spectrum 101 that contains a radar signal), scan informationassociated with a scan for a radar signal in the plurality of 5 GHzcommunication channels associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101,state information, location information associated with the agilityagent device and/or the access point device, time signals, scan lists(e.g., scan lists showing neighboring access points, etc.), congestioninformation (e.g., number of re-try packets, type of re-try packets,etc.), traffic information, other channel condition information, and/orother spectral information. The cloud intelligence engine 235 maycombine the spectral information with other spectral information (e.g.,other spectral information associated with agility agent(s) 251) togenerate combined spectral information. Then, the cloud intelligenceengine 235 may determine a particular communication channel (e.g., aparticular communication channel associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fispectrum 101) and may communicate the particular communication channelto the agility agent 200 (e.g., via the secure communications tunnel).Additionally or alternatively, the cloud intelligence engine 235 maycommunicate other information to the agility agent 200 (e.g., via thesecure communications tunnel) such as, for example, access pointlocation (including neighboring access points), access point/clustercurrent state and history, statistics (including traffic, congestion,and throughput), whitelists, blacklists, authentication information,associated client information, regional information, regulatoryinformation and/or other information. The agility agent 200 uses theinformation from the cloud intelligence engine 235 to control the hostaccess point 218, other access points and/or other network devices.

The agility agent 200 may communicate via wired connections orwirelessly with the other network components. In the illustratedexample, the agility agent 200 includes a primary radio 215 and asecondary radio 216. The primary radio 215 is for DFS and radardetection. The primary radio 215 is typically a 5 GHz radio. In oneexample, the primary radio 215 can be a 5 GHz transceiver. The agilityagent 200 may receive radar signals, traffic information, and/orcongestion information through the primary radio 215. And the agilityagent 200 may transmit information, such as DFS beacons, via the primaryradio 215. The secondary radio 216 is a secondary radio for sendingcontrol signals to other devices in the network. The secondary radio 216is typically a 2.4 GHz radio. The agility agent 200 may receiveinformation such as network traffic, congestion, and/or control signalswith the secondary radio 216. And the agility agent 200 may transmitinformation, such as control signals, with the secondary radio 216. Theprimary radio 215 is connected to a fast channel switching generator 217that includes a switch and allows the primary radio 215 to switchrapidly between a radar detector 211 and beacon generator 212. The fastchannel switching generator 217 allows the radar detector 211 to switchsufficiently fast to appear to be on multiple channels at a time. Incertain implementations, the agility agent 200 may also includecoordination 253. The coordination 253 may provide cross-networkcoordination between the agility agent 200 and another agility agent(e.g., agility agent(s) 251). For example, the coordination 253 mayprovide coordination information (e.g., precision location, precisionposition, channel allocation, a time-slice duty cycle request, trafficloading, etc.) between the agility agent 200 and another agility agent(e.g., agility agent(s) 251) on a different network. In one example, thecoordination 253 may enable an agility agent (e.g., agility agent 200)attached to a WiFi router to coordinate with a nearby agility (e.g.,agility agent(s) 251) attached to a LTE-U small cell base station.

In one embodiment, a standalone multi-channel DFS master (e.g., theagility agent 200) includes a beacon generator 212 to generate a beaconin each of a plurality of 5 GHz radio channels (e.g., a plurality of 5GHz radio channels associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101), aradar detector 211 to scan for a radar signal in each of the pluralityof 5 GHz radio channels, a 5 GHz radio transceiver (e.g., the primaryradio 215) to transmit the beacon in each of the plurality of 5 GHzradio channels and to receive the radar signal in each of the pluralityof 5 GHz radio channels, and a fast channel switching generator 217coupled to the radar detector, the beacon generator, and the 5 GHz radiotransceiver. The fast channel switching generator 217 switches the 5 GHzradio to a first channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels andthen causes the beacon generator 212 to generate the beacon in the firstchannel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels. Then, the fast channelswitching generator 217 causes the radar detector 211 to scan for theradar signal in the first channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radiochannels. The fast channel switching generator 217 then repeats thesesteps for each other channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channelsduring a beacon transmission duty cycle and, in some examples, during aradar detection duty cycle. The beacon transmission duty cycle is thetime between successive beacon transmissions on a given channel and theradar detection duty cycle which is the time between successive scans ona given channel. Because the agility agent 200 cycles between beaconingand scanning in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels in thetime window between a first beaconing and scanning in a given channeland a subsequent beaconing and scanning the same channel, it can provideeffectively simultaneous beaconing and scanning for multiple channels.

The agility agent 200 also may contain a Bluetooth radio 214 and/or an802.15.4 radio 213 for communicating with other devices in the network.The agility agent 200 may include various radio protocols 208 tofacilitate communication via the included radio devices.

The agility agent 200 may also include a location module 209 togeolocate or otherwise determine the location of the agility agent 200.Information provided by the location module 209 may be employed tolocation-tag and/or time-stamp spectral information collected and/orgenerated by the agility agent 200. As shown in FIG. 2, the agilityagent 200 may include a scan and signaling module 210. The agility agent200 includes embedded memory 202, including for example flash storage201, and an embedded processor 203. The cloud agent 204 in the agilityagent 200 facilitates aggregation of information from the cloud agent204 through the cloud and includes swarm communication protocols 205 tofacilitate communications between agility agents, access points, clientdevices, and other devices in the network. The cloud agent 204 alsoincludes a security module 206 to protect and secure the cloudcommunications of the agility agent 200, as well as agent protocols 207to facilitate communication with the access point control agents 219,224.

As shown in FIG. 2, the agility agent 200 may control other accesspoints, for example networked access point 223, in addition to the hostaccess point 218. The agility agent 200 may communicate with the otheraccess points 223 via a wired or wireless connection 236, 237. In oneexample, the agility agent 200 may communicate with the other accesspoints 223 via a local area network. The other access points 223 includean access point control agent 224 to facilitate communication with theagility agent 200 and other access points. The access point controlagent 224 includes a security module 225, agent protocols 226 and swarmcommunication protocols 227 to facilitate communications with otheragents (including other access points and client devices) on thenetwork.

The cloud intelligence engine 235 includes a database 248 and memory 249for storing information from the agility agent 200, one or more otheragility agents (e.g., the agility agent(s) 251) connected to the cloudintelligence engine 235 and/or one or more external data source (e.g.,data source(s) 252). The database 248 and memory 249 allow the cloudintelligence engine 235 to store information associated with the agilityagent 200, the agility agent(s) 251 and/or the data source(s) 252 over acertain period of time (e.g., days, weeks, months, years, etc.). Thedata source(s) 252 may be associated with a set of databases.Furthermore, the data source(s) 252 may include regulation information(e.g., non-spectral information) such as, but not limited to,geographical information system (GIS) information, other geographicalinformation, FCC information regarding the location of radartransmitters, FCC blacklist information, National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA) databases, Department of Defense (DOD)information regarding radar transmitters, DOD requests to avoidtransmission in DFS channels for a given location, and/or otherregulatory information.

The cloud intelligence engine 235 also includes processors 250 toperform the cloud intelligence operations described herein. In anaspect, the processors 250 may be communicatively coupled to the memory249. Coupling can include various communications including, but notlimited to, direct communications, indirect communications, wiredcommunications, and/or wireless communications. In certainimplementations, the processors 250 may be operable to execute orfacilitate execution of one or more of computer-executable componentsstored in the memory 249. For example, the processors 250 may bedirectly involved in the execution of the computer-executablecomponent(s), according to an aspect. Additionally or alternatively, theprocessors 250 may be indirectly involved in the execution of thecomputer executable component(s). For example, the processors 250 maydirect one or more components to perform the operations.

The roaming and guest agents manager 238 in the cloud intelligenceengine 235 provides optimized connection information for devicesconnected to agility agents that are roaming from one access point toanother access point (or from one access point to another network). Theroaming and guest agents manager 238 also manages guest connections tonetworks for agility agents connected to the cloud intelligence engine235. The external data fusion engine 239 provides for integration andfusion of information from agility agents with information from the datasource(s) 252. For example, the external data fusion engine 239 mayintegrate and/or fuse information such as, but not limited to, GISinformation, other geographical information, FCC information regardingthe location of radar transmitters, FCC blacklist information, NOAAdatabases, DOD information regarding radar transmitters, DOD requests toavoid transmission in DFS channels for a given location, and/or otherinformation. The cloud intelligence engine 235 further includes anauthentication interface 240 for authentication of receivedcommunications and for authenticating devices and users. The radardetection compute engine 241 aggregates radar information from theagility agent 200, the agility agent(s) 251 and/or the data source(s)252. The radar detection compute engine 241 also computes the locationof radar transmitters from those data to, among other things, facilitateidentification of false positive radar detections or hidden nodes andhidden radar. The radar detection compute engine 241 may also guide orsteer multiple agility agents to dynamically adapt detection parametersand/or methods to further improve detection sensitivity. The locationcompute and agents manager 242 determines the location of the agilityagent 200 and other connected devices (e.g., agility agent(s) 251)through Wi-Fi lookup in a Wi-Fi location database, querying passingdevices, triangulation based on received signal strength indication(RSSI), triangulation based on packet time-of-flight, scan lists fromagility agents, or geometric inference.

The spectrum analysis and data fusion engine 243 and the networkoptimization self-organization engine 244 facilitate dynamic spectrumoptimization with information from the agility agent 200, the agilityagent(s) 251 and/or the data source(s) 252. Each of the agility agents(e.g., the agility agent 200 and/or the agility agent(s) 251) connectedto the cloud intelligence engine 235 have scanned and analyzed the localspectrum and communicated that information to the cloud intelligenceengine 235. The cloud intelligence engine 235 also knows the location ofeach agility agent (e.g., the agility agent 200 and/or the agilityagent(s) 251) and the access points proximate to the agility agents thatdo not have a controlling agent as well as the channel on which each ofthose devices is operating. With this information, the spectrum analysisand data fusion engine 243 and the network optimizationself-organization engine 244 can optimize the local spectrum by tellingagility agents (e.g., the agility agent 200 and/or the agility agent(s)251) to avoid channels subject to interference. The swarm communicationsmanager 245 manages communications between agility agents, accesspoints, client devices, and other devices in the network. The cloudintelligence engine includes a security manager 246. The control agentsmanager 247 manages all connected control agents. In an implementation,the cloud intelligence engine 235 may enable the host access point 218to coordinate network configurations with same networks (e.g., WiFi toWiFi) and/or across different networks (e.g., WiFi to LTE-U).Furthermore, the cloud intelligence engine 235 may enable agility agents(e.g., agility agent 200 and agility agent(s) 251) connected todifferent host access devices to communicate within a same network(e.g., WiFi to WiFi) and/or across a different network (e.g., WiFi toLTE-U).

Independent of a host access point 218, the agility agent 200, in therole of an autonomous DFS master device, may also provide the channelindication and channel selection control to one or more peer-to-peerclient devices 231, 232 within the coverage area by (a) signalingavailability of one or more DFS channels by simultaneous transmission ofone or more beacon signals; (b) transmitting a listing of both theauthorized available DFS channels, herein referred to as a whitelist andthe prohibited DFS channels in which a potential radar signal has beendetected, herein referred to as a blacklist along with control signalsand a time-stamp signal, herein referred to as a dead-man switch timervia an associated non-DFS channel; and (c) receiving control,coordination and authorized and preferred channel selection guidanceinformation from the cloud intelligence engine 235. The agility agent200 sends the time-stamp signal, or dead-man switch timer, withcommunications to ensure that the devices do not use the information,including the whitelist, beyond the useful lifetime of the information.For example, a whitelist will only be valid for certain period of time.The time-stamp signal avoids using noncompliant DFS channels by ensuringthat a device will not use the whitelist beyond its useful lifetime.

Such peer-to-peer devices may have a user control interface 228. Theuser control interface 228 includes a user interface 229 to allow theclient devices 231, 232 to interact with the agility agent 200 via thecloud intelligence engine 235. For example, the user interface 229allows the user to modify network settings via the agility agent 200including granting and revoking network access. The user controlinterface 228 also includes a security element 230 to ensure thatcommunications between the client devices 231, 232 and the agility agent200 are secure. The client devices 231, 232 are connected to a wide areanetwork 234 via a cellular network for example. In certainimplementations, peer-to-peer wireless networks are used for directcommunication between devices without an access point. For example,video cameras may connect directly to a computer to download video orimages files using a peer-to-peer network. Also, device connections toexternal monitors and device connections to drones currently usepeer-to-peer networks. Therefore, in a peer-to-peer network without anaccess point, DFS channels cannot be employed since there is no accesspoint to control DFS channel selection and/or to tell devices which DFSchannels to use. The present invention overcomes this limitation.

FIG. 3 illustrates how the agility agent 200 acting as an autonomous DFSmaster in a peer-to-peer network 300 (a local area network for example)would interface to client devices 231, 232, 331 and the cloudintelligence engine 235 independent of any access point, in accordancewith the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the cloud intelligenceengine 235 may be connected to a plurality of network-connected agilityagents 200, 310. The agility agent 200 in the peer-to-peer network 300may connect to the cloud intelligence engine 235 through one of thenetwork-connected client devices 231, 331 by, for example, piggy-backinga message to the cloud intelligence engine 235 on a message send to theclient devices 231, 331 or otherwise co-opting a connection of theclient devices 231, 331 to the wide area network 234. In thepeer-to-peer network 300, the agility agent 200 sends over-the-aircontrol signals 320 to the client devices 231, 232, 331 includingindications of channels free of occupying signals such as DFS channelsfree of radar signals. Alternatively, the agility agent communicateswith just one client device 331 (e.g., a single client device 331) whichthen acts as the group owner to initiate and control the peer-to-peercommunications with other client devices 231, 232. The client devices231, 232, 331 have peer-to-peer links 321 through which they communicatewith each other. The agility agent 200 may operate in multiple modesexecuting a number of DFS scan methods employing different algorithms.

FIG. 4 illustrates a system that includes the agility agent 200, thecloud intelligence engine 235 and the host access point 218, inaccordance with an aspect of the present invention. The agility agent200 may be directed by the cloud intelligence engine 235 (e.g., acloud-based data fusion and computation element) to enable adaptivecontrol of dynamic channel selection for the host access point 218and/or other functions (e.g., dynamic configuration of radio parameters,etc.) associated with the host access point 218. As disclosed herein, inan aspect, the agility agent 200 includes the cloud agent 204. Forexample, the cloud agent 204 may enable the agility agent 200 tocommunicate with the host access point 218. The cloud agent 204 mayadditionally or alternatively communicate with one or more other devices(not shown) such as, for example, a base station (e.g., a small cellbase station), a DFS slave device, a peer-to-peer group owner device, amobile hotspot device, a radio access node device (e.g., an LTE-smallcell device), a software access point device and/or another device. Inan implementation, the cloud agent 204 includes cloud control 402. Thecloud control 402 may further enable the agility agent 200 tocommunicate with the cloud intelligence engine 235. Furthermore, thecloud control 402 may facilitate dynamic selection of radio channelsand/or other radio frequency parameters for the host access point 218.For example, the agility agent 200 may analyze a plurality of 5 GHzradio channels (e.g., a plurality of 5 GHz radio channels associatedwith the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101) for the host access point 218.Additionally or alternatively, the agility agent 200 may analyze aplurality of 5 GHz radio channels (e.g., a plurality of 5 GHz radiochannels associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101) for the DFS slavedevice, the peer-to-peer group owner device, the mobile hotspot device,the radio access node device (e.g., the LTE-small cell device), thesoftware access point device and/or another device. In an aspect, theagility agent 200 may actively scan the plurality of 5 GHz radiochannels (e.g., the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels associated withthe 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101) during a CAC phase and/or during an ISMphase.

Then, the agility agent 200 may generate spectral information based onthe analysis of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels (e.g., theplurality of 5 GHz radio channels for the host access point 218, the DFSslave device, the peer-to-peer group owner device, the mobile hotspotdevice, the radio access node device, the software access point deviceand/or another device). For example, the agility agent 200 may provideinformation (e.g., spectral information) to the cloud intelligenceengine 235 that indicates a set of channels from the plurality of 5 GHzradio channels which are clear of radar and are thus available to use bynearby devices (e.g., the host access point 218). The spectralinformation may include information such as, for example, a whitelist(e.g., a whitelist of each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels thatdoes not contain a radar signal), a blacklist (e.g., a blacklist of eachof the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels that contains a radar signal),scan information associated with a scan for a radar signal in theplurality of 5 GHz radio channels, state information, locationinformation associated with the agility agent 200 and/or the host accesspoint 218, time signals, scan lists (e.g., scan lists showingneighboring access points, etc.), congestion information (e.g., numberof re-try packets, type of re-try packets, etc.), traffic information,other channel condition information, and/or other spectral information.The cloud control 402 may transmit the spectral information to the cloudintelligence engine 235. In an aspect, the agility agent 200 maytransmit the spectral information to the cloud intelligence engine 235via a wide area network. Additionally or alternatively, the agilityagent 200 may transmit the spectral information to the cloudintelligence engine 235 via a set of DFS slave devices in communicationwith the agility agent 200 (e.g., via a backhaul of DFS slave devices incommunication with the agility agent 200). In another aspect, theagility agent 200 may be in communication with the host access point 218via a local area network (e.g., a wireless local area network).Additionally or alternatively, the agility agent 200 may be incommunication with the host access point 218 via a wide area network(e.g., a wireless wide area network), an ad hoc network (e.g., an IBSSnetwork), a peer-to-peer network (e.g., an IBSS peer-to-peer network), ashort range wireless network (e.g., a Bluetooth network), anotherwireless network and/or another wired network.

The cloud intelligence engine 235 may integrate the spectral informationwith other spectral information (e.g., other spectral informationassociated with the agility agent(s) 251) to generate integratedspectral information. For example, the cloud intelligence engine 235 mayreceive the other spectral information from the agility agent(s) 251.The other spectral information may be generated by the agility agents(s)251 via an analysis of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels (e.g., ananalysis similarly performed by the agility agent 200). In an aspect,the cloud intelligence engine 235 may include a cloud-based data fusionand computation element for intelligent adaptive network organization,optimization, planning, configuration, management and/or coordinationbased on the spectral information and the other spectral information.The cloud intelligence engine 235 may geo-tag, filter and/or process theintegrated spectral information. In an implementation, the cloudintelligence engine 235 may combine the integrated spectral informationwith regulation information associated with the data source(s) 252. Forexample, the regulation information associated with the data source(s)252 may include information such as, but not limited to, GISinformation, other geographical information, FCC information regardingthe location of radar transmitters, FCC blacklist information, NOAAdatabases, DOD information regarding radar transmitters, DOD requests toavoid transmission in DFS channels for a given location, and/or otherregulatory information. Based on the integrated spectral informationand/or the regulation information associated with the data source(s)252, the cloud intelligence engine 235 may select a radio channel fromthe plurality of 5 GHz radio channels for the host access point 218associated with the agility agent 200. Additionally or alternatively,the cloud intelligence engine 235 may select other radio frequencyparameters for the host access point 218 based on the integratedspectral information and/or the regulation information associated withthe data source(s) 252.

The cloud control 402 may receive control information and/orcoordination information (e.g., authorized and/or preferred channelselection guidance) from the cloud intelligence engine 235. For example,the cloud control 402 may receive the radio channel selected by thecloud intelligence engine 235. Additionally or alternatively, the cloudcontrol 402 may receive the other radio frequency parameters selected bythe cloud intelligence engine 235. The agility agent 200 (e.g., thecloud agent 204) may communicate the control information and/or thecoordination information (e.g., the control information and/or thecoordination information received from the cloud intelligence engine235) to the host access point 218 (and/or any other access points withina certain distance from the agility agent 200), enabling direct controlof the host access point 218 by the cloud intelligence engine 235. Forexample, the agility agent 200 (e.g., the cloud agent 204) may thenconfigure the host access point 218 to receive data via the radiochannel selected by the cloud intelligence engine 235 and/or based onthe other radio frequency parameters selected by the cloud intelligenceengine 235. In an alternate implementation, the control agent 402 may beemployed in an access point not directly connected to the agility agent200, or in a peer-to-peer capable mobile device, to enable faster and/orimproved access to DFS channels.

In an aspect, the agility agent 200 may generate the spectralinformation based on an analysis of the plurality of 5 GHz radiochannels associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101. For example, theagility agent 200 may switch a 5 GHz transceiver (e.g., the primaryradio 215) of the agility agent 200 to a channel of the plurality of 5GHz radio channels associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101,generate a beacon in the channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radiochannels associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101, and scan for aradar signal in the channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channelsassociated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101. Additionally, the agilityagent 200 may switch a 5 GHz transceiver (e.g., the primary radio 215)of the agility agent 200 to another channel of the plurality of 5 GHzradio channels associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101, generate abeacon in the other channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channelsassociated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101, and scan for a radarsignal in the other channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channelsassociated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101. The agility agent 200 mayrepeat this process for each channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radiochannels associated with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101. The cloudintelligence engine 235 may receive the spectral information via a widearea network. Furthermore, the cloud intelligence engine 235 mayintegrate the spectral information with other spectral informationgenerated by the agility agents(s) 251 (e.g., to generate integratedspectral information). Then, the cloud intelligence engine 235 maydetermine a radio channel for the host access point 218 based at leaston the integrated spectral information. For example, the cloudintelligence engine 235 may select the radio channel from the pluralityof 5 GHz radio channels based at least on the integrated spectralinformation. In certain implementations, the cloud intelligence engine235 may receive the regulation information from the data source(s) 252.Therefore, the cloud intelligence engine 235 may determine a radiochannel for the host access point 218 based on the integrated spectralinformation and the regulation information associated with the datasource(s) 252.

FIG. 5A illustrates an interface between the cloud intelligence engine235, the agility agent 200 and the host access point 218, in accordancewith the present invention. For example, signaling and/or messages maybe exchanged between the cloud intelligence engine 235 and the agilityagent 200. The signaling and/or messages between the cloud intelligenceengine 235 and the agility agent 200 may be exchanged during a DFS scanoperation, during an ISM operation and/or when a radar event occurs thatresults in changing of a radio channel. In an aspect, the signalingand/or messages between the cloud intelligence engine 235 and theagility agent 200 may be exchanged via a WAN (e.g., WAN 234) and/or asecure communication tunnel.

An authentication registration process 502 of the cloud intelligenceengine 235 may be associated with a message A. The message A may beexchanged between the cloud intelligence engine 235 and the agilityagent 200. Furthermore, the message A may be associated with one or moresignaling operations and/or one or more messages. The message A mayfacilitate an initialization and/or authentication of the agility agent200. For example, the message may include information associated withthe agility agent 200 such as, but not limited to, a unit identity, acertification associated with the agility agent 200, a nearest neighborsscan list associated with a set of other agility agents within a certaindistance from the agility agent 200, service set identifiers, a receivedsignal strength indicator associated with the agility agent 200 and/orthe host access point 218, a maker identification associated with thehost access point 218, a measured location (e.g., a global positioningsystem location) associated with the agility agent 200 and/or the hostaccess point 218, a derived location associated with the agility agent200 and/or the host access point 218 (e.g., derived via a nearby AP or anearby client), time information, current channel information, statusinformation and/or other information associated with the agility agent200 and/or the host access point 218. In one example, the message A canbe associated with a channel availability check phase.

A data fusion process 504 of the cloud intelligence engine 235 mayfacilitate computation of a location associated with the agility agent200 and/or the host access point 218. Additionally or alternatively, thedata fusion process 504 of the cloud intelligence engine 235 mayfacilitate computation of a set of DFS channel lists. The data fusionprocess 504 may be associated with a message B and/or a message C. Themessage B and/or the message C may be exchanged between the cloudintelligence engine 235 and the agility agent 200. Furthermore, themessage B and/or the message C may be associated with one or moresignaling operations and/or one or more messages. The message B may beassociated with spectral measurement and/or environmental measurementsassociated with the agility agent 200. For example, the message B mayinclude information such as, but not limited to, a scanned DFS whitelist, a scanned DFS black list, scan measurements, scan statistics,congestion information, traffic count information, time information,status information and/or other measurement information associated withthe agility agent 200. The message C may be associated with anauthorized DFS, DFS lists and/or channel change. For example, themessage C may include information such as, but not limited to, adirected (e.g., approved) DFS white list, a directed (e.g., approved)DFS black list, a current time, a list valid time, a computed locationassociated with the agility agent 200 and/or the host access point 218,a network heartbeat and/or other information associated with a channeland/or a dynamic frequency selection.

A network optimization process 506 of the cloud intelligence engine 235may facilitate optimization of a network topology associated with theagility agent 200. The network optimization process 506 may beassociated with a message D. The message D may be exchanged between thecloud intelligence engine 235 and the agility agent 200. Furthermore,the message D may be associated with one or more signaling operationsand/or one or more messages. The message D may be associated with achange in a radio channel. For example, the message D may be associatedwith a radio channel for the host access point 218 in communication withthe agility agent 200. The message D can include information such as,but not limited to, a radio channel (e.g., a command to switch to aparticular radio channel), a valid time of a list, a network heartbeatand/or other information for optimizing a network topology.

A network update process 508 of the cloud intelligence engine 235 mayfacilitate an update for a network topology associated with the agilityagent 200. The network update process 508 may be associated with amessage E. The message E may be exchanged between the cloud intelligenceengine 235 and the agility agent 200. Furthermore, the message E may beassociated with one or more signaling operations and/or one or moremessages. The message E may be associated with a network heartbeatand/or a DFS authorization. For example, the message E may includeinformation such as, but not limited to, a nearest neighbors scan listassociated with a set of other agility agents within a certain distancefrom the agility agent 200, service set identifiers, a received signalstrength indicator associated with the agility agent 200 and/or the hostaccess point 218, a maker identification associated with the host accesspoint 218, a measured location update (e.g., a global positioning systemlocation update) associated with the agility agent 200 and/or the hostaccess point 218, a derived location update (e.g., derived via a nearbyAP or a nearby client) associated with the agility agent 200 and/or thehost access point 218, time information, current channel information,status information and/or other information. In one example, the messageB, the message C, the message D and/or the message E can be associatedwith an ISM phase.

A manage DFS lists process 510 of the agility agent 200 may facilitatestorage and/or updates of DFS lists. The manage DFS lists process 510may be associated with a message F. The message F may be exchangedbetween the agility agent 200 and the host access point 218. In oneexample, the message F may be exchanged via a local area network (e.g.,a wired local area network and/or a wireless local area network).Furthermore, the message F may be associated with one or more signalingoperations and/or one or more messages. The message F may facilitate achange in a radio channel for the host access point 218. For example,the message F may include information such as, but not limited to, anearest neighbors scan list associated with a set of other agilityagents within a certain distance from the agility agent 200, service setidentifiers, a received signal strength indicator associated with theagility agent 200 and/or the host access point 218, a makeridentification associated with the host access point 218, a measuredlocation update (e.g., a global positioning system location update)associated with the agility agent 200 and/or the host access point 218,a derived location update (e.g., derived via a nearby AP or a nearbyclient) associated with the agility agent 200 and/or the host accesspoint 218, time information, current channel information, statusinformation and/or other information. In one example, the message F maybe associated with a cloud directed operation (e.g., a cloud directedoperation where DFS channels are enabled).

FIG. 5B also illustrates an interface between the cloud intelligenceengine 235, the agility agent 200 and the host access point 218, inaccordance with the present invention. For example, FIG. 5B may providefurther details in connection with FIG. 5A. As shown in FIG. 5B,signaling and/or messages may be exchanged between the cloudintelligence engine 235 and the agility agent 200. The signaling and/ormessages between the cloud intelligence engine 235 and the agility agent200 may be exchanged during a DFS scan operation, during ISM and/or whena radar event occurs that results in changing of a radio channel. In anaspect, the signaling and/or messages between the cloud intelligenceengine 235 and the agility agent 200 may be exchanged via a WAN (e.g.,WAN 234) and/or a secure communication tunnel.

As also shown in FIG. 5B, the network update process 508 of the cloudintelligence engine 235 may facilitate an update for a network topologyassociated with the agility agent 200. The network update process 508may be associated with the message E. Then, a DFS list update process514 of the cloud intelligence engine 235 may facilitate an update to oneor more DFS channel lists. The DFS list update process 514 may beassociated with a message G. The message G may be exchanged between thecloud intelligence engine 235 and the agility agent 200. In one example,the message G may be exchanged via a WAN (e.g., WAN 234) and/or a securecommunication tunnel. Furthermore, the message G may be associated withone or more signaling operations and/or one or more messages. Themessage G may be associated with a radar event. For example, the messageG may signal a radar event. Additionally or alternatively, the message Gmay include information associated with a radar event. For example, themessage G may include information such as, but not limited to, a radarmeasurement channel, a radar measurement pattern, a time associated witha radar event, a status associated with a radar event, other informationassociated with a radar event, etc. The radar event may associated withone or more channels from a plurality of 5 GHz communication channels(e.g., a plurality of 5 GHz communication channels associated with the 5GHz Wi-Fi spectrum 101). In one example, the message G can be associatedwith an ISM phase. The DFS list update process 514 may also beassociated with the message C.

Moreover, as also shown in FIG. 5B, the manage DFS lists process 510 maybe associated with the message F. The message F may be exchanged betweenthe agility agent 200 and the host access point 218. A radar detectionprocess 516 of the agility agent 200 may detect and/or generate theradar event. Additionally, the radar detection process 516 may notifythe host access point 218 to change a radio channel (e.g., switch to analternate radio channel). The message F and/or a manage DFS listsprocess 512 may be updated accordingly in response to the change in theradio channel. In an aspect, signaling and/or messages may be exchangedbetween the cloud intelligence engine 235 and the host access point 218during a DFS scan operation, during an ISM operation and/or when a radarevent occurs that results in changing of a radio channel for the hostaccess point 218.

FIG. 6A shows the frequencies 602 and channels 603 that make up portionsof the DFS 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum. U-NII-2A 606 covers the 5.25-5.35 GHzrange. U-NII-2C 607 covers the 5.47-5.725 GHz range. The first channelto undergo CAC scanning is shown at element 607. The subsequent CACscans of other channels are shown at elements 608. And the final CACscan before the ISM phase 601 is shown at element 609.

In the ISM phase 601, the DFS master switches to the first channel inthe whitelist. In the example in FIG. 6A, each channel 603 for which aCAC scan was performed was free of radar signals during the CAC scan andwas added to the whitelist. Then the DFS master transmits 610 a DFSbeacon on that channel. Then the DFS master scans 620 the first channelin the whitelist for the dwell time. Then the DFS master transmits 611 abeacon and scans 621 each of the other channels in the whitelist for thedwell time and then repeats starting 610 at the first channel in thewhitelist in a round robin fashion for each respective channel. If aradar pattern is detected, the DFS master beacon for the respectivechannel is stopped, and the channel is marked in the blacklist andremoved from the whitelist (and no longer ISM scanned).

FIG. 6A also shows an exemplary waveform 630 of the multiple beacontransmissions from the DFS master to indicate the availability of themultiple DFS channels to nearby host and non-host (ordinary) accesspoints and client devices.

FIG. 6B illustrates a beacon transmission duty cycle 650 and a radardetection duty cycle 651. In this example, channel A is the firstchannel in a channel whitelist. In FIG. 6B, a beacon transmission inchannel A 660 is followed by a quick scan of channel A 670. Next abeacon transmission in the second channel, channel B, 661 is followed bya quick scan of channel B 671. This sequence is repeated for channels C662, 672; D 663, 673; E 664, 674; F 665, 675; G 666, 676, and H 667,677. After the quick scan of channel H 677, the DFS master switches backto channel A and performs a second beacon transmission in channel A 660followed by a second quick scan of channel A 670. The time betweenstarting the first beacon transmission in channel A and starting thesecond beacon transmission in channel A is a beacon transmission dutycycle. The time between starting the first quick scan in channel A andstarting the second quick scan in channel A is a radar detection dutycycle. In order to maintain connection with devices on a network, thebeacon transmission duty cycle should be less than or equal to themaximum period between the beacons allowable for a client device toremain associated with the network.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a standalonemulti-channel DFS master that includes a beacon generator 212 togenerate a beacon in each of a plurality of 5 GHz radio channels, aradar detector 211 to scan for a radar signal in each of the pluralityof 5 GHz radio channels, a 5 GHz radio transceiver (e.g., the primaryradio 215) to transmit the beacon in each of the plurality of 5 GHzradio channels and to receive the radar signal in each of the pluralityof 5 GHz radio channels, and a fast channel switching generator 217 andembedded processor 203 coupled to the radar detector, the beacongenerator 212, and the 5 GHz radio transceiver. The fast channelswitching generator 217 and embedded processor 203 switch the 5 GHzradio transceiver (e.g., the primary radio 215) to a first channel ofthe plurality of 5 GHz radio channels and cause the beacon generator 212to generate the beacon in the first channel of the plurality of 5 GHzradio channels. The fast channel switching generator 217 and embeddedprocessor 203 also cause the radar detector 211 to scan for the radarsignal in the first channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels.The fast channel switching generator 217 and embedded processor 203 thenrepeat these steps for each of the other channels of the plurality of 5GHz radio channels. The fast channel switching generator 217 andembedded processor 203 perform all of the steps for all of the pluralityof 5 GHz radio channels during a beacon transmission duty cycle which isa time between successive beacon transmissions on a specific channeland, in some embodiments, a radar detection duty cycle which is a timebetween successive scans on the specific channel.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the present invention includessystems and methods for selecting available channels free of occupyingsignals from a plurality of radio frequency channels. The systemincludes at least an agility agent 700, a host device 701 and a cloudintelligence engine 755. For example, the agility agent 700 maycorrespond to the agility agent 200, the host device 701 may correspondto the host access point 218, and/or the cloud intelligence engine 755may correspond to the cloud intelligence engine 235. In one example, theagility agent 700 may be a standalone multi-channel DFS master device.In an aspect, the agility agent 700 may function as an autonomousfrequency selection master that has both an embedded radio receiver 702to detect the occupying signals in each of the plurality of radiofrequency channels and an embedded radio transmitter 703 to transmit anindication of the available channels and/or an indication of unavailablechannels not free of the occupying signals. For example, the embeddedradio transmitter 703 can transmit the indication of the availablechannels and/or the indication of unavailable channels not free of theoccupying signals to the cloud intelligence engine 755.

The agility agent 700 is programmed to connect to the host device 701and control a selection of an operating channel selection of the hostdevice by transmitting the indication of the available channels and theindication of the unavailable channels to the host device 701. The hostdevice 701 communicates wirelessly with client devices 720 and acts as agateway for client devices to a network 710 such as the Internet, otherwide area network, or local area network. The host device 701, under thecontrol of the agility agent 700, tells the client devices 720 whichchannel or channels to use for wireless communication. Additionally, theagility agent 700 may be programmed to transmit the indication of theavailable channels and the indication of the unavailable channelsdirectly to client devices 720.

The agility agent 700 may operate in the 5 GHz band and the plurality ofradio frequency channels may be in the 5 GHz band and the occupyingsignals are radar signals. The host device 701 may be a Wi-Fi accesspoint or an LTE-U host device.

Further, the agility agent 700 may be programmed to transmit theindication of the available channels by transmitting a channel whitelistof the available channels to the cloud intelligence engine 235 and/or totransmit the indication of the unavailable channels by transmitting achannel blacklist of the unavailable channels to the cloud intelligenceengine 235. In addition to saving the channel in the channel blacklist,the agility agent 700 may also be programmed to determine and save inthe channel blacklist information about the detected occupying signalsincluding signal strength, traffic, and type of the occupying signals.

The agility agent 700 is connected to the cloud intelligence engine 855.The agility agent 700 may connect to the cloud intelligence engine 855directly or through the host device 701 and network 710. The cloudintelligence engine 855 integrates time distributed information from theagility agent 700 and combines information from a plurality of otheragility agents 850 distributed in space and connected to the cloudintelligence engine 855. The agility agent 700 is programmed to receivecontrol and coordination signals and authorized and preferred channelselection guidance information from the cloud intelligence engine 755.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the agility agent 700 contains achannel whitelist 810 of one or more channels scanned and determined notto contain an occupying signal. The agility agent 700 may receive thechannel whitelist 810 from another device including a cloud intelligenceengine 755. Or the agility agent 700 may have previously derived thechannel whitelist 810 through a continuous CAC for one or more channels.In this embodiment, the agility agent 700 is programmed to cause theembedded radio receiver 702 to scan each of the plurality of radiofrequency channels non-continuously interspersed with periodic switchingto the channels in the channel whitelist 810 to perform a quickoccupying signal scan in each channel in the channel whitelist 810. Theagility agent 700 is further programmed to cause the embedded radiotransmitter 703 to transmit a first beacon transmission in each channelin the channel whitelist 810 during the quick occupying signal scan andto track in the channel whitelist 810 the channels scanned anddetermined not to contain the occupying signal during the non-continuousscan and the quick occupying signal scan. The agility agent 700 is alsoprogrammed to track in a channel blacklist 815 the channels scanned anddetermined to contain the occupying signal during the non-continuousscan and the quick occupying signal scan and then to perform in-servicemonitoring for the occupying signal, including transmitting a secondbeacon for each of the channels in the channel whitelist 810,continuously and sequentially. In an aspect, the embedded radiotransmitter 703 may transmit the channel whitelist 810 and/or thechannel blacklist 815 to the cloud intelligence engine 755.

In view of the subject matter described supra, methods that can beimplemented in accordance with the subject disclosure will be betterappreciated with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 9-10. While forpurposes of simplicity of explanation, the methods are shown anddescribed as a series of blocks, it is to be understood and appreciatedthat such illustrations or corresponding descriptions are not limited bythe order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur in different ordersand/or concurrently with other blocks from what is depicted anddescribed herein. Any non-sequential, or branched, flow illustrated viaa flowchart should be understood to indicate that various otherbranches, flow paths, and orders of the blocks, can be implemented whichachieve the same or a similar result. Moreover, not all illustratedblocks may be required to implement the methods described hereinafter.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary method 900 according to the presentinvention for determining an operating channel for an access pointdevice via an agility agent device and a cloud intelligence enginedevice. Initially, at 902, spectral information associated with aplurality of 5 GHz communication channels for an access point device incommunication with the agility agent device is generated using anagility agent device (e.g., agility agent 200 or agility agent 700). Thespectral information may be generated based on an analysis of theplurality of 5 GHz communication channels. In one example, analysis ofthe plurality of 5 GHz communication channels may include switching a 5GHz radio transceiver of the agility agent device to a channel of theplurality of 5 GHz communication channels, generating a beacon in thechannel of the plurality of 5 GHz communication channels, and scanningfor a radar signal in the channel of the plurality of 5 GHzcommunication channels. The spectral information may include informationsuch as, for example, a whitelist (e.g., a whitelist of each of theplurality of 5 GHz communication channels that does not contain a radarsignal), a blacklist (e.g., a blacklist of each of the plurality of 5GHz communication channels that contains a radar signal), scaninformation associated with a scan for a radar signal in the pluralityof 5 GHz communication channels, state information, location informationassociated with the agility agent device and/or the access point device,time signals, scan lists (e.g., scan lists showing neighboring accesspoints, etc.), congestion information (e.g., number of re-try packets,type of re-try packets, etc.), traffic information and/or other spectralinformation. The agility agent device may be, for example, a standalonemulti-channel DFS master device. It is to be appreciated that thespectral information can be associated with a different plurality ofcommunication channels. For example, in an alternate embodiment, thespectral information can be associated with a plurality of 5.9 GHzcommunication channels or a plurality of 3.5 GHz communication channels.

At 904, the spectral information is received, by a cloud intelligencedevice (e.g., cloud intelligence engine 235 or cloud intelligence engine755), via a network device. For example, the agility agent device maytransmit the spectral information and/or the cloud intelligence devicemay receive the spectral information via a wide area network.

At 906, the spectral information is integrated, using the cloudintelligence device (e.g., cloud intelligence engine 235 or cloudintelligence engine 755), with other spectral information to generateintegrated spectral information. The other spectral information maygenerated by at least one other agility agent device. In one example,the spectral information may be integrated with the other spectralinformation via one or more data fusion processes.

At 908, a communication channel for the access point device from theplurality of 5 GHz communication channels is determined, using the cloudintelligence device (e.g., cloud intelligence engine 235 or cloudintelligence engine 755), based at least on the integrated spectralinformation. For example, a communication channel may be selected fromthe plurality of 5 GHz communication channels based at least on theintegrated spectral information. In an aspect, regulation informationassociated with the plurality of 5 GHz communication channels and/orstored in at least one database may be received by the cloudintelligence device. Furthermore, the communication channel may befurther determined based on the regulation information. In anotheraspect, an indication of the communication channel may be provided tothe agility agent device and/or the access point device.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary method 1000 according to the presentinvention for determining an operating channel for an access pointdevice via an agility agent device and a cloud intelligence enginedevice. Initially, at 1002, spectral information associated with aplurality of 5 GHz radio channels for an access point device incommunication with the agility agent device is generated using anagility agent device (e.g., agility agent 200 or agility agent 700). Thespectral information may be generated based on an analysis of theplurality of 5 GHz radio channels. In one example, analysis of theplurality of 5 GHz radio channels may include switching a 5 GHz radiotransceiver of the agility agent device to a channel of the plurality of5 GHz radio channels, generating a beacon in the channel of theplurality of 5 GHz radio channels, and scanning for a radar signal inthe channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels. The spectralinformation may include information such as, for example, a whitelist(e.g., a whitelist of each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels thatdoes not contain a radar signal), a blacklist (e.g., a blacklist of eachof the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels that contains a radar signal),scan information associated with a scan for a radar signal in theplurality of 5 GHz radio channels, state information, locationinformation associated with the agility agent device and/or the accesspoint device, time signals, scan lists (e.g., scan lists showingneighboring access points, etc.), congestion information (e.g., numberof re-try packets, type of re-try packets, etc.), traffic informationand/or other spectral information. The agility agent device may be, forexample, a standalone multi-channel DFS master device. It is to beappreciated that the spectral information can be associated with adifferent plurality of communication channels. For example, in analternate embodiment, the spectral information can be associated with aplurality of 5.9 GHz communication channels or a plurality of 3.5 GHzcommunication channels.

At 1004, the spectral information is transmitted, using the agilityagent device (e.g., agility agent 200 or agility agent 700), to a cloudintelligence device (e.g., cloud intelligence engine 235 or cloudintelligence engine 755) via a wide area network. For example, the cloudintelligence device may receive the spectral information via a networkdevice of the wide area network.

At 1006, regulation information stored in at least one database isreceived by the cloud intelligence device (e.g., cloud intelligenceengine 235 or cloud intelligence engine 755). The regulation informationmay be associated with the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels. Theregulation information may include information such as, but not limitedto, GIS information, other geographical information, FCC informationregarding the location of radar transmitters, FCC blacklist information,NOAA databases, DOD information regarding radar transmitters, DODrequests to avoid transmission in DFS channels for a given location,and/or other information.

At 1008, integrated spectral information is generated, using the cloudintelligence device (e.g., cloud intelligence engine 235 or cloudintelligence engine 755), by integrating the spectral information withother spectral information. The other spectral information may generatedby at least one other agility agent device. In one example, the spectralinformation may be integrated with the other spectral information viaone or more data fusion processes.

At 1010, a radio channel for the access point device from the pluralityof 5 GHz radio channels is determined, using the cloud intelligencedevice (e.g., cloud intelligence engine 235 or cloud intelligence engine755), based at least on the integrated spectral information and theregulation information. For example, a radio channel may be selectedfrom the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels based at least on theintegrated spectral information and the regulation information. In anaspect, an indication of the radio channel may be provided to theagility agent device and/or the access point device.

In the present specification, the term “or” is intended to mean aninclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specifiedotherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to meanany of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; Xemploys B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” issatisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a”and “an” as used in this specification and annexed drawings shouldgenerally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwiseor clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

In addition, the terms “example” and “such as” are utilized herein tomean serving as an instance or illustration. Any embodiment or designdescribed herein as an “example” or referred to in connection with a“such as” clause is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of the terms“example” or “such as” is intended to present concepts in a concretefashion. The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used inthe claims and description, unless otherwise clear by context, is forclarity only and does not necessarily indicate or imply any order intime.

What has been described above includes examples of one or moreembodiments of the disclosure. It is, of course, not possible todescribe every conceivable combination of components or methodologiesfor purposes of describing these examples, and it can be recognized thatmany further combinations and permutations of the present embodimentsare possible. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed and/or claimedherein are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications andvariations that fall within the spirit and scope of the detaileddescription and the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that theterm “includes” is used in either the detailed description or theclaims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to theterm “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as atransitional word in a claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a radio detector configuredto scan for radar in each of a plurality of 5 GHz communication channelsassociated with an access point, wherein the radio detector comprises afirst radio configured to monitor for intermittent radar for a firstrange of dynamic frequency selection (DFS) frequencies, and wherein theradio detector comprises a second radio configured to monitor forintermittent radar for a second range of DFS frequencies; and a DFSmaster device configured to perform a channel availability check (CAC)associated with the plurality of 5 GHz communication channels.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the DFS master device is configured to: (a)switch a 5 GHz radio transceiver to one of the plurality of 5 GHz radiochannels; (b) cause the radar detector to scan for the radar in the oneof the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; (c) determine whether the oneof the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels is occupied; and (d) repeatsteps (a) through (c) for each other channel of the plurality of 5 GHzradio channels.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein steps (a) through (d)are performed during (1) a transmission duty cycle which is a timeperiod between successive transmissions on a specific 5 GHz channel andwhich is less than or equal to the maximum time period between thesuccessive transmissions allowable for a client device to remainassociated with the specific 5 GHz channel and (2) during a radardetection duty cycle which is the time period between successive radarscans on the specific 5 GHz channel.
 4. The system of claim 1, whereinthe radio detector is incorporated into the access point.
 5. The systemof claim 1, wherein the radio detector is attached to the access point.6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first radio and the second radioare integrated into the access point.
 7. The system of claim 1, whereinthe first range and the second range are contiguous.
 8. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the first range and the second range arenon-contiguous.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the access point andthe DFS master device are associated with a corresponding processor. 10.The system of claim 1, wherein the DFS master device is configured toindicate that a 5 GHz communication channel of the plurality of 5 GHzcommunication channels is occupied upon completion of a correspondingCAC on the 5 GHz communication channel.
 11. The system of claim 1,wherein the DFS master device is configured to indicate that a 5 GHzcommunication channel of the plurality of 5 GHz communication channelsis occupied within sixty seconds of a corresponding CAC on the 5 GHzcommunication channel.
 12. A method, comprising: scanning for radar ineach of a plurality of 5 GHz communication channels; monitoring theradar for a first range of dynamic frequency selection (DFS) frequenciesby using a first dedicated radio; monitoring the radar for a secondrange of DFS frequencies by using a second dedicated radio; andperforming a channel availability check (CAC) associated with theplurality of 5 GHz communication channels.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising: indicating that a 5 GHz communication channel of theplurality of 5 GHz communication channels is occupied upon completion ofa corresponding CAC on the 5 GHz communication channel.
 14. The methodof claim 12, further comprising: indicating that a 5 GHz communicationchannel of the plurality of 5 GHz communication channels is occupiedwith sixty seconds of completion of a corresponding CAC on the 5 GHzcommunication channel.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the firstrange and the second range are contiguous.
 16. The method of claim 12,wherein the first range and the second range are non-contiguous.
 17. Asystem, comprising: a radio detector configured to scan for radar ineach of a plurality of 5 GHz communication channels associated with anaccess point, wherein the radio detector comprises a first radioconfigured to scan for intermittent radar for a first range of dynamicfrequency selection (DFS) frequencies, and wherein the radio detectorcomprises a second radio configured to scan for intermittent radar for asecond range of DFS frequencies; and a DFS master device configured togenerate spectral information associated with a plurality of 5 GHz radiochannels based on a first channel availability check (CAC) associatedwith the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the DFS master device is configured to: (a) switch a 5 GHz radiotransceiver to one of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; (b) causethe radar detector to scan for the radar in the one of the plurality of5 GHz radio channels; (c) determine whether the one of the plurality of5 GHz radio channels is occupied; and (d) repeat steps (a) through (c)for each other channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels.
 19. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the first range and the second range arecontiguous.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first range and thesecond range are non-contiguous.